At Home in Your Body
Text: Psa 139; 1Ti 4:4-5
Focus: God has created us carefully and wonderfully, which should be part of our "body image".
Function: The listener will give thanks for the body they have been given.
Most of us will ask this question at some point: "Who am I?" We might think about the home we were raised in, our town, and country. We’ll also think about our likes and dislikes, our skills and abilities. But part of the answer, at least, is coming to terms with this fleshly machine we drive, the human body. Who am I in this body I inhabit?
You are not just your body, but because it’s the only part people can see, it makes a big impression -- on you and others. And the truth is, some of you at least, feel short-changed. You are not very happy with what you’ve got.
The whole thing that makes this awkward is, you had little choice about the basic model you drive. You can’t go get a totally different one, even with the wonders of medical science. You’re stuck with the body you’ve got. Or could it be that you’re "blessed" with the one fitted for you. How do you become at home in your body, so that you can enjoy the experience?
Our society has set high standards and can be cruel on those who don’t meet them, which is like 99% of us. But even the other 1% are rarely satisfied. Sometimes I talk to very beautiful, in shape people and they are unhappy with their appearance. In fact, only 1% of women in Canada would use the word "beautiful" to describe themselves. Maybe we need some new thoughts from the manufacturer.
YOUR BODY AND GOD. When I began thinking about how God thinks about me, it shook me a little. Like many of you, I’ve heard how wonderful we are, but bringing it home to me is quite a different matter.
From early on, we pick up these beliefs about our bodies -- some are true, some are not. In Jr High, I was chubby. I still catch myself thinking I’m chubby. I used to have very blonde hair, and I have to remind myself it’s not blonde any more. If it’s light in any colour now, it’s gray!
What’s curious is, God cares. He’s not only concerned with your soul. As we open Psalm 139, we learn some amazing things about His viewpoint. It’s evident, for instance that
He likes to watch me move. We get that from the first three verses,
"You have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise.... You read my thoughts from far away. You watch me when I travel and when I rest." Psalm 139:1-3
If it’s not too much trouble, would you please stand for a moment. OK, sit down. That’s not a real profound illustration, but God was just a spectator. He sees your movements, every flex of your muscle. He knows when you wink your eye, or raise your eyebrow. He does inventory on every hair of your head. Nothing about your body is hidden from Him.
Not only does he take interest in my movements, He’s thoroughly familiar with me
That’s the theme picked up again here: "You are familiar with all my ways. If I say, ’Let the darkness hide me and let the light around me turn into night,’ even the darkness is not too dark for you. Night is as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you." Ps 139:10-12
He knows your habits and quirks. That leg that won’t stop its nervous bouncing? He knows about it. Some things are quirky and some embarassing. You may hope to keep some of it hidden, perhaps a scar, a tattoo, a habit. Not possible. He’s as familiar with how you use your body as you are.
For some that’s uncomfortable. We might feel like everyone is watching and judging us all the time. We think they see every zit, every hair out of place. Others are not usually so hard on us as we think.
Is that how God watches us, to judge? Is this a blazing, exposing light to embarrass and shame you? God’s light is not for that purpose. It’s more like the operating light on a surgery table -- if there are things to heal, that is what He wants to do.
Another thing we need to hold to is this: God Created Me Beautiful. Imagine those first days of life, before you’re born. It’s always warm, rather quiet, somewhat dark, and yet moving and alive. Full of promise. Your new life is dawning as your mother’s body provides every nutrient you need:
"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born." Psa 139:14-15 (NLT)
God has much invested in the body you live in. He knit it together, wonderfully. [Fetus Pic] You were woven together by the Master’s Hand. He masterminded processes that cause cell to join to cell, wherever needed. Ligaments and muscles and organs formed. Cells danced together to join harmoniously into brains, kidneys, lungs, nails, hair, bones, lashes, eyes with their optics, light receptors, and muscles.
The intricate parts of your eardrums heard muffled sounds through the water. Your strong leg muscles sometimes stretched outward, much to the delight or discomfort of your mom.
The Psalmist calls these "precious thoughts," in v 17-18, too many to count. You’re a work of wonder -- fearfully made. That means you’re awe inspiring. You’re no random accident, you’re the carefully fashioned product of an architect, who never uses the same blueprint twice. You are unique.
So now what do you think about my body? Whatever you think, God thinks it’s great, a piece of art.
But you are not likely my problem. I am. By any standards I pilot this amazing biological machine. Yet I have, at certain times been a rather ungrateful inhabitant as I give in to the sin of comparison. At times, looking around at what’s out there, I would gladly have traded it for one that was somewhat stronger, and taller, and better looking, thinking in my imagination I could have received better.
And what about the deformed? Are they a mistake? No, in God’s eyes, they too are wonderful, beautiful, purposeful -- amazing people. It’s our minds that are the problem, being too judgmental and comparison oriented.
It’s not perfection that’s the standard. In Genesis God pronounced his work on humans as "very good." Perfection is for a future time and space when we will be better equipped to handle it.
SHAPING A BETTER BODY IMAGE
So how do I start thinking about me like God thinks about me? I came across this verse, whose first application was about food. It appeals to this larger principle that applies to all creation. Here’s the larger principle:
1 Tim 4:4 For everything God created is good
So, now we’ll move back down to a different specific application: Your body. You may never see your body the same after you apply what God is saying. Let’s look at some details. A better body image means I’ll
View My Body as Good. Good means useful, positive, valuable, even holy. All good things are from God, for his purposes. Anything good can be holy.
A group known as the "gnostics" believed that the body was evil and the spirit good. God’s word says your body can also be reclaimed for good. Another verse makes it pretty clear: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? 1 Cor 6:15
Your body is not just a mass of flesh and bones, some sort of organic concoction. Your body is valuable to God and to you. You are image of God material, connected to Christ. You have a responsibility to treat your body well. Your body is a sacred instrument to be employed in worship.
If you value something in your house, you will make sure it doesn’t get scratched up, beat up, and broken. You will protect it and shine it so it will keep its value.
If you view your body as good, as set apart for God, you will look after it with more than a passing interest. In fact, if you abuse your body and neglect it, you will feel terrible about yourself. God loves you in your body. It’s precious to Him as part of who you are. Next,
Stop Rejecting Body Parts. Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected.
We might think, "My ears, my arms, and my lips are OK, but I hate my nose, and my eyebrows."
I paged through some women’s magazines the other day. I feel sorry for some of you women -- not because of how you look but because of how you’re supposed to look! Ads and articles abounded about plastic surgery, lash extensions, hair coloring, and makeup. Mascara can give you up to sixteen times bigger lashes. I would think you’d have to do lash exercises just to hold those babies open!
One ad for shiny skin salve said, "Control what you can." The implication is, "The rest of you ain’t much to behold, so you better work with what you got."
But it’s not just women. Fathers used to say, "That’ll put some hair on your chest," and their sons were happy. These days their sons will run the other direction because men are lasering hair from all sorts of places. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but the heavy emphasis on looks is out of whack.
What looks good is usually a cultural matter, and what’s happened in our culture is easily explainable. They want your money. If they can make you feel unhappy, they will have your money. One study said women are bombarded with an average of 2000 ads on beauty products a week.
Not liking your face or your skin or your limbs will not change them. Learn to accept what God accepts. Reject what God rejects. You’ll be much happier. Next, spiritual thinking means I will
Thank God for My Body. Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. The psalmist also declared, "I praise you because I’m so well made..."
Can you do that? Can you say, "God, thankyou for making me so superbly. Thankyou for making me beautiful and wondrous." It might sound proud if you’re comparing yourself to others, but if you’re giving God the credit for His work, it’s pure worship.
It’s possible, that we can become so discontent trying to fix and shape our bodies that we’ve lost the thankful wonder of them. Look at your hand. Do you appreciate how amazing it is? A signal from your brain will move a finger in a split second. Nerve endings let you know when something comes into contact and tells you whether it’s rough or smooth, warm or cold, wet or dry.
Even those parts you don’t like much, what’s wrong? Don’t they work at all? Or are you judging on the basis of appearance. Whose standards are you using? I’ve never liked my nobby knees. Compared to others, they look weird when bent. When I was a teenager wearing shorts, I would avoid bending my legs in front of girls, because everyone knows that no girl would like a guy with ugly knees. That made it very hard to sit down.
Today, I’m thanking God for my knees. They work fine. I don’t have to kneel on concrete very often. Maybe it’s everyone else’s knees that are the wrong shape!
Dale Carnegie said, "If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying. Would you sell both your eyes for a million dollars, or your legs, or your hands. or your hearing? Add up what you do have, and you’ll find that you won’t sell them for all the gold in the world. The best things in life are yours...."
Beauty is not confined to the few. It is the domain of the many. Dove’s "Real Beauty" campaign, showing ordinary people with ordinary bodies has created quite a stir. Having read their material, I think they are sincere in trying to change some stereotypes. Of course they’re probably selling more soap too!
By not making me into a model, God has preserved me from something I already struggle with -- pride. He gave me the body best suited to me.
Finally, Offer Prayers of Dedication. You can accept your created body with thanksgiving especially as you believe what God has already said about it, and as you offer it back to him. because it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
Your body is a beautiful, wonderful agent that you can give back to God for His use. So we pray, "God use my appearance, my hands, my feet, my lips, eyes and ears to make my world a better place, for your Good. Thankyou, God that though I’m ordinary by many measures, that ordinary is outstanding."
Beauty is much much more than skin deep. Some physically attractive people house a devilish spirit that destroys others and opposes God. Other less attractive people radiate a beauty that will be celebrated in eternity. The difference? One is dedicated, one is not.
Pray for new eyes. Beauty rests not so much in the object viewed as in the one doing the viewing. There is so much beauty in you if you will see it.
This day may be a good one to re-dedicate your body. While many people use this morning to sleep off the effects of the night in a groggy stupor, you piloted your body here to learn how to love God better.
One of the best songs I know for this sort of dedication is the old hymn, "Take my life and let it be." [Sing]
This may be very hard for some of you to do, but I would like you to say it with me, "I’m a wonderful creation."
Next, I would like you to choose a quiet prayer from these:
"Thankyou for every part of me."
"I’m sorry for rejecting what you’ve created."
"I love Your mercy, so I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You as a spiritual act of worship." from Romans 12:1
We’ll play one more verse. If you want to physically express something to God in worship, I invite you to the front to stand, or kneel. Or, you can just stand where you are, or sit and bow you head, or even raise your hands in praise. Let God see your movement, and He will rejoice in you.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.
